Brummie BBC Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker announces retirement after 58 years as broadcaster

BBC Radio 2's Johnnie Walker has announced he is retiring from radio after a 58-year career, having been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis earlier this year

DJ Johnnie Walker has made the "very sad announcement" that he is retiring from radio after a 58-year broadcasting career.

While presenting today's edition of Sounds Of The 70s on BBC Radio 2, the 79 year old informed listeners of his decision to step down from the Sunday afternoon show and The Rock Show.

He initiated the announcement by reading a letter from a listener whose father, a fan of the show, had passed away in 2022 due to pulmonary fibrosis, a condition Walker was diagnosed with earlier this year.

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Walker then proceeded to tell listeners: "Now, that leads me to be making a very sad announcement." "The struggles I've had with doing the show and trying to sort of keep up a professional standard suitable for Radio 2 has been getting more and more difficult, hence my little jokes about Puffing Billy, so I've had to make the decision that I need to bring my career to an end after 58 years."

"And so I'll be doing my last Sounds Of The 70s on October 27, so I'll make the last three shows as good as I possibly can."

"Now this week in 1978, the Rolling Stones were special guests on America's Saturday Night Live TV show and they appeared in a couple of sketches and performed three tracks from their latest album, Some Girls."

"Well, one of the tracks on the album seems quite suitable at the moment."

He then played the Rolling Stones's 1978 single Miss You, before announcing that former Old Grey Whistle Test presenter Bob Harris would be taking over the show.

He revealed: "And by the way, I can also reveal not only my last Sounds Of The 70s, but the person taking over the show will be the one and only Bob Harris, so Bob Harris will be in charge of Sounds Of The 70s from November 3."

Earlier in the year, Walker had opened up about his condition that leads to the scarring of the lungs and hampers breathing; he described it as "terminal" and noted it is getting "progressively worse".

Moreover, he has praised his radio shows for giving him a lifeline, mentioning he would "probably die a lot sooner" without them.

Talking about stepping into Walker's shoes, Harris expressed: "I am proud and honoured to be taking over a BBC Radio 2 institution from a true broadcasting great."

He continued: "Johnnie and I have been friends since my years presenting Old Grey Whistle Test and the original Sounds Of The 70s and I will do all I can to maintain his legacy and curate the programme with the very best music from that remarkable decade."

The airwaves will also welcome Shaun Keaveny, who'll be the new host for The Rock Show starting from November 1.

Johnnie Walker's farewell edition of The Rock Show is set to broadcast on Friday October 25, from 11pm to midnight. Meanwhile, his last aire of Sounds Of The 70s will take place on Sunday October 27, from 3pm to 5pm.

The Brummie broadcaster kicked off his radio journey back in 1966 with Swinging Radio England, an offshore pirate station and then gained widespread fame on Radio Caroline where he hosted an immensely popular night-time programme.

After the station's closure, he joined BBC Radio 1 in 1969 and continued until 1976. He then relocated to San Francisco to record a weekly show that was aired on Radio Luxembourg.

In the early 1980s, he made his return to the BBC where he has stayed ever since.

Following the announcement, a special Sounds Of The 70s box-set collection on BBC Sounds will enable listeners to relish a selection of Walker's finest moments.